The First Man to Descend into Turkmenistan’s Door to Hell

By exploring this uncharted territory, Kourounis hoped that any evidence of microbial life he could retrieve – while noteworthy in itself – might some day be used in the wider ongoing search for extra-terrestrial life.

Speaking of his passion for potentially life-threatening escapades – even one where the destination resembles a place of eternal torment – Kourounis explains that he tries “to do dangerous things in the safest manner possible,” adding, “Nature is so amazing, I want everyone to see how grand and spectacular it can be, so I absorb the risk myself to showcase the planet’s most incredible sights.”